NATSO last week recommended a series of changes to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed revisions to its underground storage tank regulations (UST) as well as EPA's new requirements for secondary containment and operator training. Among them, NATSO recommended ways that EPA can structure its new requirements to minimize regulatory burdens on UST owners and operators without any increased risk to human health and the environment.

In comments filed with the EPA, NATSO recommended that EPA: refrain from adding a new monthly walkthrough inspection requirement; exempt truckstop and travel plazas that have continuous monitoring of tank sumps from a 30-day tank sump inspection; and move the spill prevention tests to three years instead of annually. NATSO also told EPA that the agency's cost estimates to comply with the changes were understated.

NATSO also asked for greater flexibility in operator training. Proposed regulations require Class A and B operators to be trained by an independent trainer. NATSO suggests that EPA provide flexibility to allow Class A and B operators to be trained by either an independent trainer or by in-house trainers.

{Editor's note: NATSO has partnered with Practical American Safety Solutions (PASS) to offer an online training program that meets the federal and state requirements. Learn more here.)

This article originally ran inNATSO News Weekly(NNW), NATSO's member only weekly electronic newsletter. NNW is packed with the latest updates on government and business issues affecting the truckstop and travel plaza industry.